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1. "h dri, now) Therefore he had lately written the former Epistle. The seven Canonical Epistles were written by the apostles shortly before their death. While they still remained alive, they had judged that it was less needful for them to write. — a %, in which) (plural). Syllepsis.1 The meaning is, in which (second Epistle), as in the former Epistle. — sv bno/Avrifci, by reminding you ) ch. i. 12. Ye already know , ver. 3 ; it is only needful that I should remind you : Jude 5. — g iXmpivyj, sincere) adulterated with no error.
2. Hpo<p7}ruvy by prophets) Jude 14. — ruv arrocroXuv, tj/auv, of us , the apostles) In apposition, as Acts x. 41. Others read, ruv dcroc- roXuv uguv2 * of your apostles ; who live among you at the present time, in antithesis to the ancient prophets. Comp, the apostle of the Gentiles , Rom. xi. 13. — rob Kvplov , of the Lord) This is to be taken with the apostles .
3. Upurov, first) So ch. i. 20, note. — yivuffxovrsg, knowing) The nomi-
native case coheres with that ye may be mindful : comp. Acts xv. 23, note. The righteous already knew this from the word of the apostles, Jude 17 and 18. — JXg bcovrou, shall come) in greater number and shamelessness. By which very thing they themselves confirm the truth of this prediction. — hg.rrar/.rcuf mockers) Thus the Sep- tuagint renders Isa. iii. 4, those who perform the most serious
matters in the most trifling manner, even when they do not employ joke and laughter. [They are wholly given up to mocking, having no foundation besides for whatever they please to do.— V. g.] — krriOu- (a/ag,4 lusts) This is the origin of error, the root of licentiousness.
4. rioO iffnvy where is f) They think, either that it ought already to
1 See Append, on this figure.
2 ABC Vulg. read vpuv : Bee. Text, with cursive MSS. of later date, tj/kcov. — E.
8 The fuller reading, tv ty.nu.tyg.ovYi tpt,7rouKTui, is preferred both in the margin of both Editions and in the Germ. Vers., which has u lauter Spotter,” or rather, as it is read in the margin of the Germ. Vers. “ Erz-Spotter.” — E. B.
ABC (C omitting tv) Vulg. add tv i^rrcuy^ovvi. Bee. Text, with inferior authorities, omits these words. — E.
4 x.u.ru. rots ihiug — rroptvoptvoi, ivalking according to their own lusts ) This is an exact description of an abandoned man, that he does whatever is his own pleasure, and is not restrained by any reverence towards God. — V. g.
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